Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Happy New Year Fairfax!
As we are jumping right into 2023, I want to connect you with our Fairfax family and help you achieve your 2023 goals. Based on several surveys, here are the top 6 New Year’s Resolutions — I like to call them Goals — along with links to local and digital resources for each.
Exercise More: many of these businesses are offering membership sales this month.
Eat Healthier: bowls, smoothies, and organic produce are still popular!
- Playa Bowls
- Naked Lunch
- True Food Kitchen
- Boyla Fresh Bold Kitchen
- Roots Natural Kitchen
- PokeHub
- South Block
- Pressed
- PLNT Burger
Save More Money: Advisors suggest you begin with a budget, review your expenses, and set financial goals. Check out these Best Money Saving Apps suggested by Bankrate.com.
- Digit — Best for optimizing savings decisions
- Qapital — Best for those who are motivated by visuals
- Long Game — Best for a game-like experience
- Chime — Best for effortless savings
- Current — Best for young adults seeking a banking alternative
- Acorns — Best for novice investors
- Mint — Best for financial newcomers
- Qoins — Best for those with debt
Spend More Time with Family and Friends: a game night at home is always fun, but here are some ideas to get out and about together!
- MUSE — paint bar
- Bad Axe — axe throwing
- Board & Brush — DIY wood sign workshop
- The Winery at Bull Run
- Maple Ave Restaurant — try brunch at this modern European bistro
- Bowlero Tysons — 36 lanes, an arcade, air hockey, you could even join a league
- Escapology — Fairfax’s live escape room
- Chubby Squirrel Tasting Room — and the crispy tots are great, too!
- The Boro — check out events and the latest restaurants in this vibrant neighborhood
- The Block Foodhall — food, ice cream, and a bar
- Go for a run or walk — check out some of my favorite trails here
Reduce Stress: these popular meditation apps are great tools to help with relaxation and better sleep.
Refresh Yourself: save at least one night a week to do something that refreshes you.
- Order in your life
- Enjoy the outdoors
- Listen to music
- Serve others/volunteer
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Bestselling and award-winning author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Dara Coulter will visit Reston later this month for a book signing and reading.
Alexander and Coulter will take part in the event at Scrawl Books (11911 Freedom Drive) on Sunday at 4 p.m. The team is celebrating the release of “An American Story,” a picture book that tells the story of teacher struggling to help her students understand the history of American slavery.
Leah Grover, the communications and events manager for Scrawl Books, said the bookstore is looking forward to welcoming both authors and illustrators.
“Kwame is a friend of the store, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving of the widespread love and admiration he’s received. It’s always a pleasure to work with him,” Grover said. “If you’re not familiar with Dare Coulter, you’ll be blown away by her artwork! Her illustrations are as affecting and complex as Kwame’s words.”
Participants are encouraged to register online for the event.
Alexander is currently on a book tour featuring his latest release. He has authored 36 books, including “The Door of No Return” and “The Crossover.”
He has received several rewards including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the Coretta Scott King Author Honor and three NAACP Image Award nominations. He writes in a penthouse in London, where he now lives, according to his website.
Tysons Corner Center Sees Uptick in Arrests — “Arnest supervises the [Fairfax County Police] Tysons Urban Team. It’s a unit that launched in 2013. Data shared with WUSA9 shows the unit made 787 arrests in 2022. That’s compared to 377 in 2021 and 406 in 2020. They say…those number[s] were likely smaller because of the pandemic.” [WUSA9]
Nashville-Style Chicken Sandwich Chain Coming for Hybla Valley — “A rapidly expanding restaurant chain has plans to open a new location in the Hybla Valley section of Alexandria. Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken recently signed a lease with KLNB to occupy an end space at 7508C Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Mail Carrier Robbed — “Two men went up to the United States Postal Service letter carrier and demanded the worker’s ‘blue box’ keys just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on Greensboro Drive in McLean, police said. One of the men implied he had a weapon, and the postal worker gave them the keys, police said. The carrier was not hurt.” [NBC4]
District 35 Candidates Share Priorities — “Democrat Holly Seibold and Republican Monique Baroudi are vying in a Jan. 10 special election to succeed former Del. Mark Keam (D) in the 35th House of Delegates District.” The candidates share their top legislative priorities and views on subjects from education to whether town elections should be held in May or November. [Sun Gazette/Inside NoVA]
Pedestrian Safety Priority for Region — “When asked what were the most pressing transportation issues facing Fairfax County and the region at large, [Providence District Supervisor Dalia] Palchick said pedestrian safety…topped the list…Drivers in Fairfax County struck and killed at least 29 pedestrians in 2022, the most pedestrian deaths in a single year in the county since at least 2010, according to state data.” [Patch]
GMU to Launch Climate Change Center — “The Virginia Climate Center is expected to launch in late January…Initially, it will be focused on helping the communities in the northern part of the state, providing data to localities to make better decisions about public health, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resources.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
Metro Police Add Naloxone to Toolkit — “Medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose will be issued to officers with the Metro Transit Police Department. The move comes following a rise in calls…reporting suspected overdoses, from 27 incidents in 2021 to 43 incidents in 2022, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.” [WTOP]
State Legislators to Hear Public Tomorrow — State senators and delegates representing Fairfax County in the Virginia General Assembly will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday) ahead of the legislature’s 2023 session, which begins Wednesday (Jan. 11). The meeting will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center and is open to all county residents. [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 41. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 5:02 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County ended 2022 with a “medium” level of COVID-19 in the community, the first time it reached that level since August.
Continuing an upward trend that began around Thanksgiving, the county is averaging 291 cases per day for the past week, the highest weekly average since Aug. 13, per Virginia Department of Health data.
However, increased hospitalizations are what pushed the county from “low” to “medium,” as of Dec. 29, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the county’s case rate of 147.19 cases per 100,000 residents is below the CDC’s 200-case threshold, there have been 11 new hospital patients admitted with Covid for every 100,000 residents over the past seven days. In addition, 6.4% of all staffed, inpatient beds are being occupied by people with Covid.
Those numbers changed slightly earlier this week. As of Monday (Jan. 2), 7.6% of beds were being used by Covid patients, and the hospitalization rate dipped to 9.2 patients per 100,000 residents, which would put the county back in “low” territory.
The CDC is supposed to update its local community level classifications on Thursdays, but the dashboard still said “medium” by press time.
Despite the recent resurgence in the coronavirus, which remains far from the heights seen last winter, the Fairfax County Department of Health says it’s “unlikely” to bring back the face mask requirements that were in place until last February, unless a mandate is recommended by the CDC or the state.
The county’s approach reflects a national shift away from mandates in the public health response to the pandemic.
“To help prevent spread of COVID, FCHD does strongly recommend that our residents stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations,” department spokesperson Lucy Caldwell said by email. “In addition, handwashing, getting tested if symptomatic and/or staying home when ill will also help stem the spread of COVID in the community.”
While the county’s mobile testing and mass vaccine sites were phased out last month, the FCHD still offers both services at its district offices, though anyone in need must call 703-324-7404 to make an appointment. Testing sites can be found through the VDH, and vaccine options are at vaccines.gov.
There have been 2.8 million vaccine doses administered to residents of the Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church as well as the county.
According to the FCHD, 86% of residents have gotten at least one dose, including:
- 93% of people 18 and older
- 99% of 16-17 year olds
- 95.6% of 12-15 year olds
- 64.2% of 5-11 year olds
- 22.7% of kids aged 6 months to 4 years old
As of yesterday, 942,162 residents — or 79.6% — are fully vaccinated, including 86.7% of adults. Booster uptake remains under 50% for all age groups under 45.
The district has reported a total of 259,627 cases, 5,273 hospitalizations and 1,729 deaths during the pandemic.
A daycare provider from a Montessori school in McNair has been arrested for assaulting a child.
Wesal Houd Abu Issa, 42, of Herndon was arrested on yesterday (Wednesday) for allegedly restraining an 18-month-old to a chair using tape at Little Oaks Montessori Academy (12525 Dulles Technology Drive), according to Fairfax County police.
Police were alerted after an employee of the facility informed daycare staff and Child Protective Services a day after the incident on Dec. 8.
After investigating, detectives obtained a warrant for assault on Dec. 21.
The Fairfax County Police Department asks anyone with additional information to contact its detectives using the following methods:
We are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 3. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
Little Oaks serves kids in Northern Virginia aged 3 months to 6 years. The school didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Within the next six to nine months, the inventory of burial sites at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in the Town of Herndon will be maxed out.
That’s why the town is embarking on an expansion of burial sites within the existing cemetery property, according to Cindy Roeder, the director of the town’s parks and recreation department.
“There is currently a site plan under review, and we anticipate that will be approved in the near future and construction to prepare the site will begin shortly after,” Roeder told FFXnow.
The town expects to add burial sites that are enough to handle capacity for the next 15 to 20 years. The cemetery currently has an abundance of options for cremation and mausoleum burials, according to the town.
“In order to sustain the cemetery options and continue to serve the Herndon community, the development of this section is essential,” Roeder wrote in a statement.
The project also includes cleaning the underbrush and scrub trees, stormwater management, and planting new trees along the boundary with neighboring homes. Once that is completed, work to prepare burial sites will begin.
Roeder expects the project to take around two years.
According to a presentation before the Herndon Town Council yesterday (Tuesday), the project will likely begin sometime this month.
Budgetary materials note that a “favorable cash position” exists to complete the project, but the town needs to ensure it can cover the costs until the expansion is completed.
A November 2024 completion date is estimated, according to the town.
The cemetery is a community heritage resource that spans 25 acres. The Chestnut Grove Cemetery Association, which operated the cemetery from the early 1950s, deeded the cemetery to the town in 1997.
Photo via Google Maps
Fairfax County property owners are officially required to contain running bamboo on their property — or face potential fines.
Effective as of Jan. 1, the county’s new running bamboo ordinance calls for property owners to get the invasive grass species under control and imposes civil penalties on property owners who let it “spread to adjacent properties or any public right-of-way.”
The ordinance was approved by the Board of Supervisors back in March 2022, along with a fine structure that includes $50 for the first complaint or violation, $200 for subsequent violations, and a $3,000 cap on fines over a 12-month period.
Officials have reiterated that staff will first seek to educate and allow for violations to be corrected voluntarily before imposing fines. When the issue went to a public hearing in February, several residents and supervisors expressed some concern about the financial implications of the fines.
In March, though, Fairfax County Director of Code Compliance Jack Weyant suggested fines would only be invoked for cases that have gone on for a year or longer.
Running bamboo is a fast-growing, invasive grass with an even more aggressive root system (rhizomes) that can spread underground up to 15 feet per year.
“Once planted, running bamboo can eventually take over yards and travel across property lines, creating issues for adjacent property owners and local jurisdictions,” Weyant told FFXnow. “Roots can push through brickwork, drains, cavity walls, patios, and exploit cracks or weaknesses in concrete.”
Weyant noted that the new ordinance “does not ban bamboo” but requires property owners to prevent it from growing on adjacent properties, including public property.
The county has set up a webpage to advise residents on the best methods to contain, prevent overgrowing, and dispose of bamboo.
Options include setting up a metal and plastic “bamboo root barrier” that deflects rhizomes back towards the bamboo owner’s property, encouraging the plants to grow vertically instead of spreading horizontally.
The county also suggests mowing bamboo often and using herbicides to prevent further growth. All cut bamboo should go in trash pick-up, not yard waste, per the county.
The complete removal of bamboo from a property is extremely difficult.
“Digging out bamboo requires heavy equipment and coordination with Virginia 811,” the website says.
In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law that let localities impose financial penalties on property owners who allow bamboo to run wild. However, Virginia still allows commercial sales, an issue that Fairfax County supervisors have previously said needs to be corrected by the state.
The county itself will also have to adhere to the new ordinance.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) manages about 204 acres of bamboo that draw 10 to 20 complaints a year from neighboring homeowners. FCPA removes two to three bamboo sites a year, but it’s expensive.
In April, the FCPA told FFXnow that a recent removal of about an acre of bamboo cost about $35,000, mostly due to herbicide treatment costs.
Summer Camp Registration Coming Up — “Registration for Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) summer camps serving children ages 3 to 16 will begin Jan. 10, 2023. Registrations fill up very quickly, so families are encouraged to visit the Park Authority Camps webpage to view more than 1,000 programming options to prepare” [FCPA]
Attorney General Launches Investigation of TJ — Jason Miyares said Wednesday that his civil rights office will probe Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for delaying notifications to students who were commended by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Fairfax County Public Schools, which ordered its own review, has denied deliberately withholding the information, attributing it instead to “human error.” [The Washington Post]
Metro Worker May Have Operated Train While Drunk — “A Metrorail operator was arrested on Friday, December 23, 2022, on suspicion of operating a train while intoxicated (DWI), according to a public Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) document.” The Blue Line train failed to stop at the Van Dorn station, “coming to a stop for more than 30 minutes before safely discharging customers at Franconia-Springfield Station,” Metro said. [Greater Greater Washington]
Warrant Service Leads to Extended Standoff in Vienna — A Vienna resident was charged with assault and stalking on Monday (Jan. 2) after police received several calls about “disorderly conduct” at his home. When police tried to serve the warrants, the man began “throwing things off his balcony and threatening others,” leading to an hours-long standoff that ended around 10 p.m. without incident. [Patch]
Vienna Sandwich Shop Will Resurface in Arlington — “[Tim] Ma’s well-regarded Chase the Submarine, which closed in Vienna about five years ago, is making a comeback at Westpost on S. Joyce Street in Pentagon City, the chef confirmed…The sandwich shop is moving into the relatively small ‘cube’ space in the development’s plaza which was home to Bread and Water until this fall.” [ARLnow]
Virginia Rail Seeks More Funds from Fairfax County — “Fairfax County taxpayers would be on the hook for additional funding to help subsidize Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service in the next fiscal year, but the total funding from Fairfax County tax coffers would still be down from pre-pandemic levels.” [Sun Gazette]
Route 29 Widening Outside Centreville Expected This Spring — “In the next few months, Virginia Department of Transportation plans to begin construction to widen 1.5 miles of U.S. Route 29…from four lanes to six, between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive. According to VDOT, approximately 30,000 vehicles a day travel the congested stretch of state roadway.” [WTOP]
Lincolnia Park Getting New Playground — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun work to replace the playground equipment at Glasgow Park. The project will require the park to close until the installation of the new equipment is complete…Contingent on the weather, the new playground is expected to open in February 2023.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 67 and low of 50. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 5:01 pm. [Weather.gov]
It could be a little more expensive to visit some Fairfax County parks this upcoming year.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is soliciting public feedback on a proposal to push up fees at local park facilities.
The increase would be, in part, to help pay to keep up with Virginia’s minimum wage increases.
“The FY 2023 budget included a 4.01% market rate adjustment for all employees, in addition to fully funding performance-based and longevity increases,” the proposal said. “The Park Authority Revenue Fund is also significantly impacted by the Minimum Wage increases that continue in 2022 and 2023.”
The park authority said it also had to offer signing and retention bonuses for difficult-to-fill summer positions, like lifeguards and camp counselors, to remain competitive.
“The estimated total for all increases was $1.8 million in FY 2023,” the proposal said. “While the FY 2024 compensation increase is currently unknown, it is anticipated to be similar to FY 2023.”
Retirement contributions and healthcare benefits also rose.
The county’s golf courses and rec centers are funded by user fees, not taxes. In the proposal, the park authority said the fees need to be adjusted to ensure operating costs can be met, as well as repair and replacement needs.
The proposal would increase fees at indoor swimming pools, recreation centers, golf courses and more. Rental of picnic areas, ampitheaters, volleyball courts and more would also get a little more costly.
The proposal also offered some insight into park usage. While the total number of rounds of golf decreased by 7% over the last year, attendance at rec centers increased dramatically over 2021 — though they remain lower than pre-Covid attendance and revenue levels.
If the fee adjustments are approved by the Park Authority Board at a meeting on March 22, it will take effect on April 1.
The park authority started accepting public comments on the proposal today (Wednesday) and will continue to do so through Feb. 2. A community meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18.
The full list of fee adjustments is available in the proposal, starting on page 8. The fees would affect:
- Golf courses
- Driving ranges at Burke Lake, Oak Marr and Twin Lakes
- The golf simulator at Pinecrest Golf Course
- Facility rentals at Laurel Hill and Twin Lakes
- Group admission and chaperone fees at all recreation centers
- Indoor swimming pool base rental fees at rec centers
- Gym rental fees at Audrey Moore, Lee District and Spring Hill
- Admission and rentals at Water Mine, as well as shade, “funbrella” and picnic reservations
- Picnic reservation rentals
- All volleyball rentals
- All amphitheater rentals
- Bike rentals at County-managed parks
- Boat launches at County-managed parks
- Entrance fee to Burke Lake Park
- Camping at Burke Lake Park and Lake Fairfax Park
- All amusement carousel and train rides
- Kayak, canoe and pedal boat rentals countywide
- New garden plots at Hogge Park, Lorton/Nike
- Various facility and room rentals
A bestselling author who wrote a book on the cost of racism will be the keynote speaker for Reston Community Center’s 38th annual Reston Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration.
The main event on Monday, Jan. 16, features Heather McGhee, the author of The New York Times bestseller “The Sum of Us: What Racism Cost Us and How We Can Prosper Together.” The address begins at 11 a.m. at RCC Hunters Woods. Tickets are $5 for Restonians and $20 for all others.
“It is vital to ask ourselves every day ‘are we keeping the promise?’” Beverly Cosham, chair of RCC’s Board of Governors, said. “When we commemorate Dr. King’s birthday and recall that he gave his life to achieving justice, we are called again to the fight for universal human rights. Memory of his beliefs and service to others fuel our commitment to making our community and world better for everyone.”
A complete line up of events from RCC is below:
Saturday, January 14
Community Service Projects
9:00 a.m., Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston
6 years and older — FreeJoin friends and neighbors in honoring Dr. King’s legacy by serving your community. As Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve.” RCC is partnering with the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate, Reston Association, Cornerstones and The Closet on community service projects. Indoor projects include sorting and organizing items from The Closet and making bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter. There will also be outdoor projects such as cleaning up the natural areas, pathways and hardscapes, weather permitting.
To volunteer, please contact Ha Brock, Volunteer Reston Manager, at 703-435-7986 or [email protected].
Reston Community Orchestra
Annual Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Words and Music as Diverse as the World of Which He Dreamed
4:00 p.m., RCC Hunters Woods Community Room
All ages — FreeWith music and words specifically chosen for this occasion, RCO joins the Reston community in a weekend commemoration of the contributions made by this celebrated American, and his vision of a society free of prejudice and racial division. The program features Reston vocalist Beverly Cosham, students from Al Fatih Academy and other special guests. There will be songs and spirituals known and loved by Dr. King. Tickets available through the RCC Box Office.
Sunday, January 15
Mark G. Meadows: Music and The Movement
2:00 p.m., RCC Hunters Woods — the CenterStage
$15 Reston/$20 Non-RestonJoin Mark G. Meadows & The Movement as they pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mark G. Meadows is a man on a mission to create a unifying sound that breaks through social barriers. There’s something for everyone in his music, which harmonizes jazz, gospel, R&B, hip-hop and rock. Mark uses his artistry to send a positive message of love, joy and hope to his audiences. Get ready to lift every voice and sing with Mark G. Meadows & The Movement. Tickets sold through the RCC Box Office.
Monday, January 16
Keynote Address by Heather McGhee followed by Community Lunch
11:00 a.m.
RCC Hunters Woods: the CenterStage and Community Room
$5 Reston/$20 Non-RestonA renowned expert on the American economy, Heather McGhee is one of the most brilliant and influential thinkers exploring inequality today. Both her viral TED talk and her instant New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us reveal the devastating true cost of racism – not just for people of color, but for everyone. Deeply stirring, intelligent and compassionate, McGhee’s talks offer us an actionable roadmap during one of the most critical – and most troubled – periods in history. Following the keynote address, a family-style lunch will be provided in the RCC Community Room.
Especially for Youth
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods
6 – 12 Years Old – Free. Registration Required. Reg. #704750You may register your school-age child (first to sixth grade) to participate in activities at RCC. Children must be registered in advance and no onsite registration will be available on the day of the event. Children will rotate through a series of activities, including an age-appropriate video and arts and crafts. All activities will be based on the history of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Lunch will be provided.
Tuesday, January 17
American Red Cross Blood Drive
RCC Hunters Woods
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.Reston Community Center partners with the American Red Cross and Fairfax County NAACP to offer a blood drive. People with minority roots are especially encouraged to participate to increase the blood supply for vulnerable populations. Make your appointment here.
The events are organized by RCC with the cooperation of the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate, Cornerstones, The Closet, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn’s office, Reston Association, Reston Community Orchestra and local schools.
Photo via National Archives
A substantial renovation to Reston’s Lake Thoreau pool is 25% complete, putting the multi-million dollar project on track for opening by the 2023 pool season.
Demolition, regrading and structural support for the elevated deck are officially complete, according to Chris Schumaker, Reston Association’s capital projects director. At a Dec. 15 board meeting, Schumaker said the planned addition to the bathhouse will begin shortly after the New Year.
“We’re currently holding on schedule and anticipate opening sometime during the 2023 pool season,” he said.
Fine grading, structural steel work and concrete work is in progress for the pool basin, he told the board.
The project could see delays due to weather impacts — but currently no delays are anticipated.
On-site work at 2040 Upper Lake Drive began over the summer. The facility has been closed since 2020 for the renovation project, which was first set to break ground in the fall of 2021.
The renovated facility will include six lap lanes and a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinated garden, and expanded bathhouses.
The project is expected to cost roughly $3.5 million.
McLean Woman Killed in D.C. Crash — “D.C. police identified the woman killed Friday afternoon near the White House by a man fleeing from the Secret Service as Shuyu Sui, a 31-year-old from McLean.” A second woman injured in the crash remains hospitalized in critical condition. A LinkedIn page indicates that Sui worked as a data engineer for Meta, which didn’t immediately return FFXnow’s request for comment. [The Washington Post]
About 313 People Killed on D.C. Area Roads in 2022 — “Prince George’s County again tops the list with 117 people killed, about 11.8 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people. The region’s other counties with big, fast highways, like Prince William and Fairfax, round out the top three jurisdictions with traffic fatalities above 5 per 100,000 people.” [DCist]
Police Officer Cleared in Seven Corners Shooting — “An undercover Fairfax County police sergeant was justified when he shot and wounded a man in August who had fled a supposed drug deal and appeared to be reaching for a gun, the Fairfax prosecutor ruled Friday.” [The Washington Post]
Herndon Resident Seeks Owner of Hen — “Tas Robin is trying to find the owners of a lost hen who showed up at her home on Bayshire Lane in Herndon on [Dec. 27]. Around 6:30 p.m., Robin’s nephew told her there was a chicken sitting on the hood of the family’s truck parked in the driveway. Robin’s brother-in-law went out, grabbed the hen and then brought it inside.” [Patch]
McLean Tech Company Partners With Samsung — “Iridium Communications Inc. said it’s signed an agreement with an undisclosed company to put its satellite communications technology into smartphones…A South Korean news outlet reported in November that Samsung was planning to work with Iridium to add satellite…technology to its Galaxy S23 phones.” [Washington Business Journal]
Not So Fast on Address Changes, Fairfax Says — “The names of 14 streets officially changed on Jan. 1, 2023, and the U.S. Postal Service has updated its database to reflect the new names. However, the city requests residents and business owners to refrain from updating their address information until Feb. 1.” [City of Fairfax]
Reston Town Center Inspired YIMBYs of NOVA Co-Founder — “Reston Town Center is where I first settled when moving to the DC area from the endless suburbs of Florida. It was my first experience living in a walkable urban community & I was amazed. My origin story of being a housing & transit advocate begins here.” [Adam Theo/Twitter]
Providence District Supervisor Makes History for Regional Transportation Group — “Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission will swear in new leadership for 2023, including the first Latina Chair Dalia Palchik, and hear public feedback on NVTC’s Work Plan at their monthly meeting Thursday.” [NVTC]
It’s Wednesday — Rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 67 and low of 58. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 5:00 pm. [Weather.gov]
Need an office for a Top Secret meeting? Venture to Venture X, opening soon in Fairfax.
Venture X’s new high-end coworking space is opening in Fairfax’s Mosaic District and offers many amenities other flex spaces do not, including secure facilities for those performing top secret work.
A tour Venture X’s 28,000-square-foot site — housing some 112 private offices — reveals luxury furniture, high-end finishes, lounge areas, 24-hour access, and comfortable collaboration spaces as well as oversized meeting rooms large enough for small-to-medium company-wide retreats, board meetings, and workshops.
Today’s flex space workers expect reliable, high-speed internet, but Venture X takes it to the next level by offering network security approved for secret-level government and corporate work. Venture X also offers a large, separate secure area specifically designed for a single company to occupy while performing top secret assignments.
The Mosaic location is convenient to the town center’s many amenities, including restaurants, bars, and shopping. It is also convenient to the Orange Line’s Dunn Loring Metro station — now connecting to Dulles International Airport via the Silver Line — as well as easy access to I-495 and Arlington Boulevard/Route 50. Learn more about the location and be sure to check out the floorplan!
Venture X, an internationally franchised company, designs its luxury accommodations for a diverse and varied membership that seeks to expand in-place and inspire its teams to achieve success. Venture in soon.
Venture X is located at 3060 Williams Drive, Suite 300, in Fairfax’s Mosaic District. See a testimonial video about Venture X. To schedule a tour or to learn more, call 703-952-5265 or see this website.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) An outcry stoked by conservative activists over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) allegedly failing to promptly announce a student academic honor has reached the Virginia governor’s office.
In a letter released this morning (Tuesday), Gov. Glenn Youngkin urged Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate the Fairfax County magnet school after it reportedly didn’t notify students commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program until after early college applications were due.
“We need to get to the bottom of what appears to be an egregious, deliberate attempt to disadvantage high-performing students at one of the best schools in the country,” Youngkin said. “Parents and students deserve answers and Attorney General Miyares will initiate a full investigation.”
Fairfax County Public Schools says it has initiated a third-party, independent investigation of its own but “stands ready to work with our partners at the state level,” should Miyares decide to pursue a review.
“Our preliminary understanding is that the delay this fall was a unique situation due to human error,” an FCPS spokesperson said. “The investigation will continue to examine our records in further detail and we will share key findings with our community.”
The school system said in a statement on Friday (Dec. 30) that families were notified as soon as the lapse “came to light.” Staff also sent emails and made follow-up calls to each college where the affected students had applied.
“FCPS understands the hard work and dedication of each and every student who competes for college acceptance and scholarship opportunities,” FCPS said. “We remain committed to supporting every student in reaching their full potential.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students who receive the highest scores in the country on the preliminary SAT, essentially a practice for the main standardized test considered by most colleges and universities for admissions.
According to the National Merit website, about 50,000 students qualify for the program every year based on an index score calculated by doubling the sum of their reading, writing and math scores.
Notifications are sent out in late September, with about two-thirds of those students being commended and one-third advancing as semi-finalists. Only about 7,250 students win actual scholarships each year.
However, FCPS only announced the school’s semi-finalists in September. Commended students at TJ didn’t learn they had gotten the honor until teachers handed out certificates on Nov. 14, Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Nomani said in the Fairfax County Times.
The Coalition for TJ sued Fairfax County Public Schools in 2021 over changes to the admissions system that were designed to boost diversity at the magnet school. The lawsuit is currently in a federal appeals court.
Nomani said she learned about the issue from Shawnna Yashar, a member of the Fairfax County Parents Association, which was incorporated in June 2021 by leaders of the Open FCPS campaign that urged schools to reopen early in the pandemic.
Since publishing last Thursday (Dec. 29), Nomani’s story has gotten picked up by several, mostly conservative outlets, including Fox News and the Daily Mail. Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears tweeted on Saturday (Dec. 31) that she had “reached out” to Youngkin and Miyares about a possible investigation.
The Fairfax County Parents Association and other groups have called for TJ principal Ann Bonitatibus to be fired and are planning to hold a rally outside the school this afternoon, according to WUSA9.
FCPS confirmed that Superintendent Michelle Reid is scheduled to meet with families this evening “to listen to their concerns.”
Parent and 11th District Republican Committee Vice Chair Srilekha Palle told WUSA9 she considers the delayed notifications “a criminal act.” Harry Jackson, another Coalition for TJ founder and brief GOP school board candidate hopeful, claimed administrators “wanted to downplay the significance of these awards to students in the name of equity.”
“I believe this failure may have caused material harm to those students and their parents, and that this failure may have violated the Virginia Human Rights Act,” Youngkin said in his letter to Miyares.
The letter doesn’t say how the lack of merit scholarship notifications might violate the Virginia Human Rights Act, which protects individuals from discrimination based on race, religion, sex and other characteristics.
A new future could be on the horizon for an office building on Dulles Technology Drive.
Aventon Holdings II is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to redevelop the ePlus headquarters at 13595 Dulles Technology Drive in McNair with a 348-unit apartment building, according to a Dec. 29 application.
The building would be up to 75 feet, or six stories, tall with a partial basement and include 41 workforce dwelling units.
“The Applicant’s proposal seeks to reinvigorate an underutilized property and increase the housing stock in Fairfax County,” the application says.
To move forward, the county would have to rezone the property from industrial uses to a planned residential mixed-use district designation.
A 418-space parking garage is planned on the site, most of which will be screened by the residential buildings. The developer wants to reduce the number of parking spaces required per dwelling unit to 1.2.
Based on the applicant’s analysis, the project would generate roughly 669 net new vehicles trips during a typical weekday, according to the application.
A 4-foot-wide pedestrian pathway is planned next to to the apartment building to connect Dulles Technology Drive to River Birch Road, along with an 8-foot-wide shared-use trail in the stream valley linked to Merry Brook Run.
An interior courtyard in the apartment building is planned with a pool, seating areas, grilling stations and entertainment areas. For the public, an observation overlook, pergola, play mounds, benches and grilling stations would be provided.
The property includes a Resource Protection Area (RPA) and is near a 100-year floodplain — which the applicants says the project will respect. Although the building doesn’t encroach on those areas, a trail, utilities and stormwater area would encroach on the RPA.
